All that. And, if you're at a small firm, you're often chasing small commissions with cheapskate clients who use all kinds of methods to stiff and delay paymen

All that. And, if you're at a small firm, you're often chasing small commissions with cheapskate clients who use all kinds of methods to stiff and delay payments. It's tough to build a good portfolio that way. (Like lots of design work in that regard.) Add in the cyclical nature of the construction trade, and it's a rough business.